Brahma Bows before Answering and Sends the King of Birds to Shiva
Uttara Kanda, Chaupai 58
Doha 60 · Movement 1 of 2
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Garuda reaches Brahma and speaks his doubt. Before offering any reply, the Creator bows his head to Rama. Love covers him as he remembers the Lord's glory. The gesture becomes the first answer: what cannot yet be reconciled by thought may still be approached through reverence.
Brahma reflects that poets, scholars, and the wise remain within the reach of maya. Hari's immeasurable power has made even the four-faced Creator dance many times. Since the moving and unmoving universe arises within the order Brahma serves, Garuda's bewilderment is hardly astonishing.
Then Brahma speaks gently. Mahesha knows the sovereignty of Rama. Go to Shankara, son of Vinata, and ask no one else. There your doubt will be destroyed. Garuda takes flight again. His pilgrimage has passed from Narada's compassionate confession to Brahma's bowed head, and both point beyond themselves toward Shiva, who knows a hidden assembly beneath the banyan of the blue mountain.
Brahma lowers four faces before Rama, then points Garuda toward the one who once learned the secret in a swan's form.
Read the passage from the Manas
तब खगपति बिरंचि पहिं गयऊ। निज संदेह सुनावत भयऊ।। सुनि बिरंचि रामहि सिरु नावा। समुझि प्रताप प्रेम अति छावा।। मन महुँ करइ बिचार बिधाता। माया बस कबि कोबिद ग्याता।। हरि माया कर अमिति प्रभावा। बिपुल बार जेहिं मोहि नचावा।। अग जगमय जग मम उपराजा। नहिं आचरज मोह खगराजा।। तब बोले बिधि गिरा सुहाई। जान महेस राम प्रभुताई।। बैनतेय संकर पहिं जाहू। तात अनत पूछहु जनि काहू।। तहँ होइहि तव संसय हानी। चलेउ बिहंग सुनत बिधि बानी।।
Then the king of birds went to Brahma and began to share his doubts. Hearing this, Brahma bowed his head to Rama. Understanding His glory, he was overwhelmed with love. The Creator pondered in his mind: even poets, scholars, and the wise are under the sway of Maya. Hari's Maya has limitless power. It has made even me dance many times. The unmanifest, all-pervading Lord is my sovereign. It is no wonder that you are deluded, O king of birds. Then Brahma spoke in sweet words: 'Mahesha knows the lordship of Rama.' 'O son of Vinata, go to Shankara. Dear one, do not ask anyone else about this.' 'There your doubt will be removed.' The bird departed upon hearing Brahma's words.